Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1887-11-28
DAILY HERALD.
DROWNED.
A sad Disaster at Long Beach Yes.
terday.


terday.
Long Beach, yesterday, was startled
by tragic occurrence, OF nature
common to a seaside resort, but OF
which, so far. there have happily been
but very few instances at the watering
places near Los Angeles. 1t was the
hour of noon, and most of the visitors
TO the beach had disappeared within
the welcoming walls of the neighboi
ing hotels for their midday repast. A
few small groups Of pleasure-seekers
had not yet abandoned the glistenine
sands, however, and some Of
them were sporting in the
azure waves laughing and carolling as
they revealed in the untrammeled en-
joyment of their life-giving bath. In
one of these bands was to be seen the
figure OF Willard Smith, a former resi-
dent of Chicago. but who had lately
established his residence at Pasadena.
He was a young man OF about twenty
years Of age, of sickly constitution
and fragile in frame, and had wan
dered down to Long Beach with some
friends SO that he might indulge in a
sea-hath, ard breathe the fresh
pure air which comes
from over the Western main.
lie venluied to distance from shore
which his friends thought hazardous,
and one of them, swimming out to
him, advised him to come back in
shallow water. 1t was lucky that a
helping hand arrived when it did, for
Smith was almost exhausted from his
battle with the waves, and with his
hands on his friends shoulders the
two started for the shore. 1t was but
a short distance to where the water
was shallow enough to permit of walk
ing, and on reaching this spot Smith
released his hold on bis friend
who started for terra frma under
the impression that Smith was fol-
lowing him. On nearing the waters
edge he made some jocular remark
and receiving no reply, turned roul d
to see the cause of Smiths silence.
He was Mortified to see that his friend
was not with him, and looking back
in the direction OF the spot where he
had left him, he saw sight which
for the moment unnerved him. Far
beyond the breakers was visible
the head OF Smith as he bobbed up
and down at the "ercv of H.
waves, and realizing that his friend
was drowning, the almost distracted
man gave the alarm and rushed to his
assistance. An engineer, who was
standing by, also went manfully to
the rescue, but it was found that it
was in vain to attempt to swim beyond
the breakers. In the meantime the
life-boat was launched and the hotels
had emptied their occupants on to the
beach. and as the oars flashed in the
cleaning spray many prayer
went up that the assist
ance might not prove too
late. But alas when the life-saving
crew arrived at the spot where Smith
was last seen fighting for mis- life,
there was no trace of the unfortunate
man in the greedy waters which
welled and surged with CLASSY front,
hiding the cruel work they had done.
To and fro the boatmen went for over
an hour, hoping that they might at
least rescue the remains, but their
search was fruitless and they, perforce.
returned to land discouraged
with the result of their
efforts. The crowd of people did
not disperse until darkness shed its
concealing mantle around, but up to
late hour last night no trace Of the re-
mains had been discovered.
1t is understood that he was an
agent for the Fairbanks Scale Com
pany, though this report has not been
authenticated.